Morning Bell: Obamacare Pep Rally Fact Check

Any doubts that President Barack Obama’s “townhall” in Portsmouth, New Hampshire yesterday was a complete farce were dispelled early on when the hand picked crowd broke out in a chant of: “Yes we can! Yes we can! Yes we can!” at the close of his opening remarks. Recognizing his campaign’s signature slogan, the President responded: “Thank you. I remember that.” Comforted knowing he was surrounded by a room full of die-hard supporters, President Obama then want on to make a number of misleading and outright false statements about the health care legislation still working it’s way through Congress. Here are just seven:

“Under the reform we’re proposing, if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan.” This statement is also plainly false. Again, as demonstrated above, the true purpose of Obama’s public option is to move Americans out of their private coverage and into government run health care. Independent, non-partisan analysis from the Lewin Group has confirmed the House bill, H.R. 3200, will do exactly that: About 88.1 million workers would see their current private, employer-sponsored health plan go away and would be shifted to the public plan.

“That’s what the health exchange is all about, is that you — just like a member of Congress — can go and choose the plan that’s right for you.” This statement isn’t false, but it is misleading. Members of Congress do purchase their health care through a health exchange: the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). Through the FEHBP 283 private plans compete for federal employees’ health care dollars. The Heritage Foundation has long been a supporter of health reform that empowers consumers to utilize a FEHBP like system. But Obamacare is nothing like the FEHBP system. There is no government run public option competing with private plans in the FEHBP. So whenever Obama says that a health exchange already “drives down costs” he is right … but remember that this cost reduction is achieved purely by private health coverage without any “competition” from a government run public option.
“We have the AARP on board because they know this is a good deal for our seniors.” This is just plain false. The AARP released a statement late yesterday directly contradicting the President: “While the President was correct that AARP will not endorse a health care reform bill that would reduce Medicare benefits, indications that we have endorsed any of the major health care reform bills currently under consideration in Congress are inaccurate.”

“I just want to be clear, again: Seniors who are listening here, this does not affect your benefits. This is not money going to you to pay for your benefits; this is money that is subsidizing folks who don’t need it.” Under the current system, more and more seniors are discovering that it is becoming harder and harder to find and keep doctors who will accept Medicare patients. A 2008 survey found that 29% of the Medicare beneficiaries it surveyed who were looking for a primary care doctor had a problem finding one to treat them. Obamacare will only make this problem worse by cutting $313 billion in Medicare reimbursements to health care providers over the next 10 years. This will only force more doctors to stop seeing Medicare patients. Obama also mentioned yesterday that he wants to pay for subsidized health care by killing the Medicare Advantage program. Medicare Advantage plans cover all of the traditional Medicare benefits and much more, including coor­dinated care and care-management programs for enrollees with chronic conditions as well as additional hospitalization and skilled nursing facility stays. 22% of all Medicare patients, which translates to 10.5 million seniors, are currently enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans.

“My belief is, is that [Obamacare] should not burden people who make $250,000 a year or less.” Both the House and Senate bills partially pay for Obamacare by imposing “employer mandates” or “pay or play” provisions that require employers to pay higher taxes if (a) they do not offer health insurance, or (b) they offer it but have employees who decline it and instead use the government system. Multiplestudies have shown that such provisions cause both lower wages and lost jobs for low-income workers.

And these are just some of the falsehoods and misinformation peddled by President Obama yesterday. It doesn’t even include his choice to sell Obamacare as The “Post Office” of Health Care Plans. No wonder so many Americans are skeptical.

Quick Hits:

According to a new Gallup poll, 66% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say they would tell their member of Congress to vote against Obamacare, while only 59% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents would tell their member of Congress to vote for it.

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What's preventing objective journalists from asking President Obama, himself,specific pointed questions about the reform plan, by citing actual references in the proposed legislation, rather than by summarizing interpretations of what the proposals might mean? Mr. President, your proposal says "x," on page #. What does "x" mean to you? Is "x" consistent with your vision?

The Tea Parties are not Republican they are Anti-government Domination of our lives on many topics. Republicans have been and still are all too willing to compromise any values to regain control of the distribution of the Pork.

The Republican senatorial election committee has selected our candidate here in Florida BEFORE the primary.They have done this across the country.Our votes, opinions don't count to the ELITES, Democrats are worse than Republicans. What a ringing endorsement!

Republican Presidents other than Reagan have left a lot to be desired.Nixon imposed price and wage controls from the oval office by executive decree.HW Bush killed the Reagan Conservative Revolution, GW Bush had to be over-ruled by the base on Illegal Amnesty and Harriet Miers, yet still managed to get a bigger not better Dept. of Kennedy Education,No budget vetoes,Campaign Finance Incumbent Protection Act, etc.

The traditional people are angry, we are getting loud because we have been ignored, sorry for the lack of civil discourse in front of our royal representatives who are going to ignore us once again.The democrats are Socialists,wake up! Some will be required to fall on their swords to implement the agenda.So what! They will get government jobs or retire on fat government checks for the rest of their lives, such a price to pay.

Heath Care for the poor dumb people will pass,the congress and government employees,unions,elites will have different plans paid for by the poor dumb people.

Some think Rush and Glenn Beck are getting too rash and rowdy, Michael Savage is disdained by All, except the millions who see the wisdom of his words.Savage's problem is he is 2years ahead of the curve, even my curve, but I have seen him proven right.Democrat/Republican is a shell game,later Beck exposed the Progressives in Both parties in Common Sense.Republicans from McCain's campaign continue to attack Sara Palin,Why? No elite Ivy League degree or she attacked the Royal Republicans in Alaska?

Do you see a pattern in the Obama Agenda?

First Pork(stimulus) to buy off congress Both parties took the money. Cap and Trade,Government ownership of Auto's, and Banks, 42 czars (started under Nixon) that do not answer even to a rubber stamp congress. And YOU have the gall to say we are impolite! What follows health care? Illegal Amnesty and who do these now legal citizens vote for with their newly acquired government Free Health Care? Democrats! There will be no 2010 retaking of congress by the McLame Republicans.* refer back to Rino primary selection above. We will not vote to meet the New Boss same as the Old Boss.(Difference in degree but All marching to the Progressive drum beat)

My one question for you, Is what happens next when honest,heartfelt communication as shown by citizens in these Townhalls is ridiculed, belittled, and ignored by both political parties?

The central problem in health care is at the STATE level. There are 1300 private health insurance companies in the US. If the State regulations are removed and all citizens are allowed to shop health insurance from all 1300 companies imagine the competition and reduced premiums and increased services. If Obama really wants to improve health care he would recommend federal legislation to remove State regulations. But alas, this is too simple and cost effective.

Thank you Heritage, for telling it like it is. In this barrage of lies we are being fed by the government, you are a rock of truth we can cling to.

I am pleased to see people persisting in the town halls. We need to fight this now. we cannot trust that we can get these people out of office in '10 and '12. We have to keep as much as we can from being implemented now.

What makes anyone think that town hall meetings or anything else is going to stop this SOB from jamming his so called health plan down our throats? All of his people who don't want to work want the free hand out and nothing will stop his plan to give it to them, thus giving him re-election. And there will be more to come to ensure the dominance of the demarcate party for many years to come. The people of this country had better wake up and get off their lazy backsides next election and vote for their freedom.

I would like to suggest to Senator Specter that he may want to rethink his thoughts that the protests do not reflect America. More than anything else, the protests are America. And for those politicians who think we are just a bunch of rabble rousers, I would suggest that the King of England thought the same think some 230 years ago as we were seeking independence. What was the outcome of that rabble rousing, hmmm?

This guy named Obama doesn't understand that he is not in Chicago and that different rules apply outside of Illinois!!! Of course his Town Hall is playing out under different rules as it would have been a melt-down for him had his attendees been not hand picked from the 'yes we can' crowd'. I'm amazed that there are any of us Americans that now believe in this guy after listening to him lie about his proposals. I would suggest that everyone listen carefully to his 'plan' and think it through or there will surely be big surprises for those who don't.

I'm sorry, but what I said is how I feel and I don't know how else to express it. If I can't say what I think to be true, then don't moderate it and don't add it. I do feel America is in the mess that we are because some do lie when they talk and how are we to know what we think if our conclusions are not based on truth?

PS And I would surely be saying this to my Mother at the dinner table or wherever. Once more, our friends out here in the hinterland are saying more or less what I said. Come out and go to any restaurant and I'm sure you would be surprised if you are upset at my comments.

Please keep spreading the message about the need to defeat the government run healthcare alternative. I have been trying to find an answer to this question. Does it spell out in the bill what the government plan plans to base it's reimbursement to providers on? If it is based on medicare/ medicaid reimbursement the way I see it it will spell the begining of the end of healthcare as we know it today!. Insurance compaies will not be able to compete with such reibursements, hostipals and doctors won't be able to keep their doors open on such reimbursement, research and advanced technology will stop and the young will not choose the heathcare field as a career opportunity.

Why would the President say he wants a competitive alternative to the insurance companies. This sound anti-competitive to me??

First, I would like to thank you all for the outstanding service you provide in informing and educating Americans on the vital issues that profoundly impact us and our "posterity".

Because of the lies, deceits, and masterful manipulations of the very willing liberal media, my beloved country is on the verge of becoming a socialist/marxist nation and we have a president who desires to "rule" by tyranny, not govern a free people. If Americans would simply hear all of the things Obama and his minions have said and are saying, there is no other conclusion that can possibly be made. If Obama and his minions truly did not "understand" how their terrible and dangerous actions are contrary to what is best for Americans, then one would think they would reverse course and actually do what IS best. But, sadly, Obama and his minions DO know, and they are doing exactly what they intended all along to do, and are getting the results they intended to get.

Obama said a number of times before his ascension to the throne that he desired and was a proponent of socialized health care. He is denying he ever was a proponent, and is largely getting away with his deception because there are so few "journalists" who will actually challenge him on anything, much less when he outright lies to our faces.

I keep hearing the argument that in one respect — deciding what health services will be provided — a government run system is no different than a private system where insurance companies made such choices. However, with respect to private insurance we have the benefit of a multitude of choices to pick from, and also benefit from competition between them, so we can get a contract that allows us to get the coverage we want. This is a far cry from a sole choice government run program.

Re: AARP quote of support from Obama. When I heard this on the PBS radio, I was shocked and was ready to discard my application to AARP. It led me to assume that AARP was pro-Obamacare and a completely liberal organization set up to support left-wing liberals. Thanks for the clarification.

Lets just hope that "THE SLEEPING GIANT" is still awake when the Elections come around nex year. I would venture to say that these people currently trying to represent us will hope that he has fallen back to sleep.

The only way we can under score this President is to wound his base by voting out all of these hipocritical representatives in office and replace them with someone who is not beholden to either the Presient, Lobbyist, and Special Interest Groups. My guess is that they will ram this bill thru regardless of the public sentiment. They are arrogant, unresponsive and need to be evicted from office. As voters we still have the power.

Remember the President's own words regarding the "Status Quo". "Change is good". If that is so, then lets show him how serious we are and take him to task by implementing change in Congress by voting the imcumbents out.

I will guarantee you this next Congressional Election is going to be down right nasty. They are going to make every attempt to underscore their opponents in order to stay in office. Your going to see a lot of dirty laundry coming out. Don't let it throw U off course.

As a final thought we should have a referendum on the ballot to determine if any future public plans affecting the American people should include our representatives. No more of this Whats ours is ours and whats theirs is theirs. Lets all sink or swim together.

Cross-state competition among insurance companies should be established.

Insurance companies need to be made to fulfill what they are selling.

The Government's duty is to oversee not to control!

The Government's plan is to force all doctors, nurses and ancillary personnel into government service. It will force us to submit our lives to their discretionary control. Where does it have that right? It has reached a point where they believe individuals are at the disposal of the State. That's the Communist way not the American!

As for Obama, the man has NEVER been truthful to the American people. When he did say "true" things, they were voiced in a way to conceal rather than reveal his true intentions. He duped his way into the White House. He is not deserving of the honor of being called the President. Rather, he behaves as if he thinks he is a Monarch.

A President is elected to "PRESIDE" over the Country that gives him that honor, not to dismantle it according to his desires. Far better men than he will ever be devised our Government with its Constitution and Bill Of Rights, which is the finest the world has ever seen! If he wants Marxism, let him go to Venezuela or Cuba and run against those evil Dictators. All the other Liberal Socialists should go with him!

He made a comment during this meeting that he didn't want anyone getting the impression that the audience members were planted. Guilty conscience? He stated that all town meetings as having plants, well now people attending town meetings are at those meetings not to listen to lies, but to tell their representative, who I might add they pay the reps salary, health insurance, retirement, travel, food, haircuts! These Reps better listen to the pleas of the people or they will be out, but of course they get taxpayers money for the rest of their lives. These public servants better listen instead of looking down their elite noses at the very people who put them in that high and mighty office!

3. Getting liability insurance rates back in line with reality.These costs are passed along.

4. Getting rid of the fraud and waste in Medicare and Medicade.If they know it's there,why is nothing done to fix it?

This is where to start, before wrecking our entire system(which is still the best in the world in spite of our "issues"), and this mad dash for another power grab which is actually the goal and objective.

Everywhere this Nationalized Healtcare plan has been tried it has failed-miserably! Yet,we know it but pursue it anyway. Where will the world go for healtcare once we destroy our system?

The government has NEVER run anything efficiently,or within any reasonable budget. This, along with Cap and Trade and whatever falls out of the next income stream,this Climate Control foolishness,and the obscene tax increases that will follow,will bankrupt out country.

Nobamacare has been reported to the authorities as "missing and believed to be dead". Yesterday, in New Hampshire, the Pinochhiometer shorted out, due to input overload, right there at the Town Hall meeting. We are now in the land of Nobamaspeak, the language that clouds minds and makes both facts and truth irrelevant.

Lies, lies and more lies. Stack the halls with supporters and tell America that "everyone except a few Right Wingers is for the bill". This garbage is being rammed down our throats like it or not. It seems that the Obama Administration and the Hill want an open confrontation with the American People.

It seems to me that by passing Obamacare, our public "servants" will wind up shooting themselves in the foot. If evolution to a single-payer succeeds, all private insurors will go out of business. Who, then, will the FEHBP obtain their coverage from? Won't said servants by default have to get health coverage from themselves? Won't that constructively be self-insurance and place them in violation of the requirement to purchase health insurance? Just wondering.

Once again lying to our faces and by omission. We cannot support this man and we cannot wait for him to force his vision through by using his henchmen, Congress. Please make your wishes known to the Congress and the President. Just say no, Just say no, Just say no!

According to a new Gallup poll, 66% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say they would tell their member of Congress to vote against Obamacare, while only 59% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents would do the same.

The final phrase should be changed to "would urge a yes vote." It would be nice if 59% of Democrats were against the plan, but that is not yet the case.

The United States FEDERAL government has no "right" to even PLAN a health care program for US citizens. Read the Constitution! Their job is to "protect" us, not to make laws about our health care. The States should design and write legislation regarding the health needs of their "INDIVIDUAL STATE RESIDENTS". Our country is made up of many different cultures, professions, industries and needs. What fits Iowa does not necessarily fit New York or California. Financial help from the feds is going to be needed but they have not "right" to dictate every aspect of our lives and this is just what the feds are trying to do: TAKE OVER EVERY BUSINESS, ALL THE BANKs, CONTROL ALL INDUSTRY AND TAKE AWAY ALL OUR FREEDOMS. It is precisely Obama's plan.

I've researched Obama and his "Chicago Machine" for over two years and it's all there.

Hmm.. well I'm officially undecided about the health care reform bill currently before congress. But I also don't really understand why people are so worked up over the notion of a health care system that has oversight by the government? In many other parts of the world where I've lived, people enjoy unparalleled access to care, whereas I can't even get in the door of the doctor's office. I remember one time, my grandmother was visiting us when we were stationed in Germany, and had to have her gall bladder removed in an emergency procedure. Her health insurance wouldn't pay for it, of course, because the German hospital was WAY out of network, but the hospital said, "Don't worry about it." Even though she wasn't a German citizen, the hospital was able to pick up the tab because it's being supported by the government.

Now, I know some people would say that story is an example of how government-supported health care can leave the door open for abuse. I see that. But ask me if I'd rather have a living grandmother? There's no dollar value to a human life, and that's the thing that is mostly missing from the anti-health care reform argument. I hear you talking about the cost, and a rising deficit, and not wanting to pay more taxes. But there's a lot of us out here who can't get any kind of care, good or bad, under the current system. If you don't have insurance, most doctors won't see you because they run the risk of losing money on the visit.

Competition can't be the solution for everything, if what companies are competing for is my money. Then every decision, every policy, boils down to the profit margin, and my life becomes meaningless. What if we designed a completely different system that rewards doctors for imrpoving the actual health of their communities? I don't mean prescribing more drugs – I mean getting patients to lose weight, quit smoking, start exercising; educating people about nutrition, healthy lifestyles, safe sex. What if the primary goal were saving and improving human lives, at any cost?

WHAT IS IT THAT OBAMA DOSEN'T UNDERSTAND? dOESN'T HE GET IT??? PEOPLE DO NOT WANT HIS GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTHCARE?????? HE KEEPS TELLING ONE LIE AFTER ANOTHER!! HE THINKS WE ARE ALL STUPID OUT HERE!!! HE WANTS THIS HEALTHCARE TO GO THROUGH SO HE CAN SAY "LOOK WHAT I DID". He does not care what happens to this country, just as long as he has control over everyone of us. I'm sorry to say this will be just the beginning of what none of us will want to see. It makes us disgusted!!! We must stop this NOW!!!!!!

The very fact that the President, and the leaders of Congress refer to American Citizens who stand in opposition to them as Nazis, racist, bullies, and even more contemptible words, displays them for what they are, elitist, who believe that they know best what is best for our Nation, and have quite forgotten that they are elected to represent the will of the People!

The health care system needs improvement, not beating down like obama wants to do. The states decide which company can do business within its borders, so if you live in Georgia and travel to some other state and need a doctor or hospital, be sure and bring your check book. Most likely your insurance will only pay a small amount of the bill. I would bet the members of Congress or obama does not have that problem. The insurances companies need to compete among themselves for the best coverage, people need to be able to choose which company and the level of coverage needed, and what they can afford. Health insurance is not a RIGHT, but a CHOISE that people make.

I am very tired of obama and the dems trying to tell me what I need or want, and then tell me that aboard will decide if what I need or want fits into the budget. My budget decides what I need and want. I pay for my needs and some of my wants, not the tax payer. If I wanted the "guvernment" to make all my decisions then I would move to communist China or to Venezula.

PEOPLE WAKE UP AND SMELL WHAT YOU ARE BEING FED, IT IS ALL BS AND A BIG PILE OF IT. THE REPUBLICANS MUST TAKE A STAND AND VOTE NO IN THIS MESS. WE AS VOTERS MUST THEN GO TO THE POLLS AND PUT THOSE THAT WANT AND ARE PUSHING FOR A SOCIALIST, MARXIST, COMMUNIST STLYE "GUVERNMENT" OUT IN THE STREET.oBAMA SAID "HOPE AND CHANGE", WELL I HOPE WE CAN CHANGE THE COURSE OF THIS COUNTRY IN 2010. YES, I CRITIZED OBAMA, SO I GUESS HIM AN PELOSI CAN CLASSIFY ME AS "UN-AMERICAN" A TERROIST,A NAZI, OR A MEMBER OF THE KLAN.I AM NONE OF THE ABOVE!!!!!!

So little truth, to many lies, much not to believe in. I have called and e-mailed my elected officials many times this year. Much to my dismay they have not listened to their base. To the point my congressman has voted straight down party lines every time which is in contrast from the district that he represents. I have come to have no faith in our current system of goverment when it comes to information or being able to efficiently run programs.

I have made the decisions sometime ago that I'm going to become very active in getting "Real Change, change you can Believe in" in Distict One here in Ohio. This phony "Change" that we have today is really the same old "Crap" just different faces. I would urge everyone to get out and get involved in this process. I believe that one person can really make a difference.

When will Americans wake-up and realize that Obama and his administration are a group of evil and hate America thugs? Their responses to most questions (any subject) will be full of lies, deceit and distortions. They are not interested in any health care improvements. They are only interested in power and control and changing America to comply with their socialist agenda. The way to counter is to convey THIS MESSAGE, 'the administration is evil and destructive'. Responding with truth and facts is a waste of time. They care zero about facts and truth. Let's wake-up Americans.

Apparently 'one reality of the situation' is that the larger the lie the greater the debt added for future generations of Americans to pay off.

FTA;

"The reality is that the Senate still has not figured out how to pay for their bill and the House bill would increase the budget deficit by $239 billion over the next ten years. CBO director Doug Elmendorf has said: “In sum, relative to current law, the proposal would probably generate substantial increases in federal budget deficits during the decade beyond the current 10-year budget window.”

Is this a burden, we the people, want to pass on to future generations of Americans? Apparently the DC politicians feel comfortable with that idea but are we?

It's true that you can keep your private insurance if you so choose. And it's also true that President Obama is NOT supporting a bill in Congress that eliminates private insurance and trades it for a public single payer plan.

You need to fact-check yourselves before you start spouting falsehoods.

I expect my government to do three things for me: protect my rights to LIFE, LIBERTY, and PROPERTY.

We need healthcare reform, desperately. I believe that most things should be privatized, but not everything, and not healthcare. A person's *life* should not be subject to the vagaries of the free market. In America, we don't allow our neighbors to burn up in flames if they can't afford the fire department.

Obamacare may not be perfect, but it's a farsight better than anything else coming down the line. If we miss this opportunity to reform healthcare now, how long will we have to wait? Another decade? Another century?

I took some time from work (with permission!) to attend the event in Portsmouth yesterday. It was a set-up from the word “go!” The chosen few (the “Yes We Can!” crowd) received preferential parking. So those of us who were denied access to the high school had to park some distance away. The parking space I found was about a mile from the HS. Many pro-Obamacare people who weren’t allowed in had to walk some distances, also, but there were minivans plastered with pro-Obamacare placards there to transport them to and from remote parking. There were many on the “pro” side who were wearing matching tee-shirts, but I saw nothing like that on our side. I had on my “Don’t Tread On Me” tee-shirt from a Tucson Tea Party and my Retired USAF cap on. Among comments from the “pro” side of the street: “Hey Air Force guy – doncha know there’s no rattlesnakes in New Hampshire?” and “Hey you – Air Force – did you bring a SAM (surface to air missile) to shoot down Air Force One?” On our side of the street: “Thanks for your service!” and several salutes. Signage on the “pro” side included several references to there being a “right to healthcare” and many signs denigrating “profits” (presumably of any kind) as being evil. I saw a clip from MSNBC in which an on-location reporter told the TV audience that the “…pro healthcare reform people were on once side of the street and the anti healthcare reform people were on the other side.” There were, however, no anti healthcare REFORM people there – what I saw were a lot of people protesting socialism, higher taxes, government incompetence, and freebies for illegal immigrants. Interesting, albeit, somewhat depressing day!

When will the Democracts stop playing Party and take this bill page by page and tell the American people the truth of what is in this for them. People in Congress, read this bill and just tell everyone the truth.

[…] President Obama’s comments at a townhall meeting yesterday about not supporting a single-payer system are drawing fire from all sides of the ideological spectrum. In response to a question, The Foundry’s Conn Carroll notes: […]

The power of socialism is in its attraction of the elite to its positions of power and the ability to front a good liar to mesmerize and fool the peasantry at any given moment.

They have their man and the rest are falling into the mold enjoying the power of deception and theft of a nations will to succeed by attacking every self motivated wealth generator and blaming it for the corruption that the government itself wrote into its laws.

Obama seems to enjoy the spot light and saying whatever seems right for the moment, is his shame not his strength. Sadly we are bearing witness to deception at the highest level with Obama speaking in opposition to his own words as frequently as Bush stumbled to get a sentence out.

Why should he be trusted?

I can forgive Bush for fumbling a sentence however a man who chooses to deceive an audience as often as Obama does, can not only be looked upon as a deceiver, he should also be looked upon as with great suspicion.

We have laws about perjury that we the citizens would be held up to in a court of law. We have a president who likes to invent reality to fit what ever occasion he likes and can be compared against his own statements as being absolutely false. Why is his attributes a quality to follow and worship with slogans of yes we can???

As vague as his message is, yes we can means what? Yes we can destroy capitalism, self earned value and impose a fascist dictatorship for elites to prosper in each party on the backs of the last remaining citizens still working?

Yes we can destroy American free choice? Yes we can force compliance without consent? Yes we can bankrupt the nation with bureaucratic pomposity?

These are some questions I'd like answered from the droning minions of yes we can.

I understand why the right doesn't want to help the less fortunate among us who can't afford healthcare.

But for those of you who already have insurance-have any of you ever had to go up against your health insurance provider about a claim? Your doctor DOES NOT control your fate-your insurance provider does. It's a fallacy to think that you really have choice now-other than picking your doctor (who, under most plans must be in your insurance company's network) – everything else is in the hands of your insurance company.

[…] fact-checking of Obama’s town-hall assertions is discussed by Ed Morrissey. And here’s more fact-checking from Heritage. I love this bit from Ed on the generally-credulous media treatments: “The […]

Morning Bell, thank you for sharing, and thank you for being comfort in the midst of a storm. I have never seen anything like this in my life. Obama apparently believes that the American people are an insufficent mass without memories. I can't believe how he blantely LIES. When is it going to stop? The claim that AARP is on his bandwagon, has cost AARP several hundred members. If in fact AARP is not in ageement with the Obama healthcare, why are they not getting a law suit? I am also concerned about Obama's latest Czar, Van Jones. He has a website similar to ACORN. It is Colorforchange.org. At present, this group of radical activist are trying to get Glen Beck removed from the air, claiming him to be racist. Hmm-mmm. Sorta like the pot calling the kettle black.

[…] Any doubts that President Barack Obama’s “townhall” in Portsmouth, New Hampshire yesterday was a complete farce were dispelled early on when the hand picked crowd broke out in a chant of: “Yes we can! Yes we can! Yes we can!” at the close of his opening remarks. Recognizing his campaign’s signature slogan, the President responded: “Thank you. I remember that.” Comforted knowing he was surrounded by a room full of die-hard supporters, President Obama then want on to make a number of misleading and outright false statements about the health care legislation still working it’s way through Congress. Here are just seven: SOURCE […]

Does anyone think that if we get, yet, another huge beauracracy flooding the government with ever more employees to support, that we will ever recover from that. Lets face it, the private sector is shrinking and with it our freedom of choice. We have owned a small business for over 20 years having only offered health insurance with health savings accounts for 5 years. There is only two choices of insurance in our state. Guess what occurs without competition…higher premiums. Let us have the competition that federal employee's enjoy. (283 insurers competing for the contract)

Do government employee's vote for more government programs? Why not, it insures there paycheck.

The private sector cannot support what we have in Government now. Social Security is a ponsey scheme as is Medicare and I as a a person who pays is simply tired of supporting the scheme. We are near retirement age and are thinking of closing down rather than support what is going on. I feel so sorry, that our generation has not defended our freedom. God help us.

Diane, Scottsdale: You are absolutely correct. Obama's townhall group was carefully handpicked and programmed. Michelle Malkin named names of attendees and their roles within Obama's circle.

To Nancy from Ohio: AARP IS a very liberal organization/lobby. Stepping back from Obamacare may be a self-preservation tactic. My husband and I withdrew our membership years ago. Didn't want our membership fees supporting their Liberal agenda.

This is not "medical insurance", but a "medical benefit" plan that 40% of the population do not have to pay for. If you drive, you are required to have "car insurance". If you don't want to pay for insurance, then don't drive. Nobody is entitled to healthcare. I wonder how the gov't would run a "car benefit"?

If people do not wake up fast, we are really in trouble. I noticed that the aarp supports the program. Interesting, since 85% of their members will be DENIED medical assistance. Could this hurt their membership??? What is wrong with people!!!!!!!!

First he wants a single payer system so the unions will vote for him, then he doesn't because that offends the sensibilities of non socialists; then he's back to a competition style government playing fair sytem with socialistic overtones but capatilisms catch phrases of competition and choices; then its just to save money, then its to bring healthcare to the poor then its not going to cost anything , then its maybe we'll need to dig a little deeper…..and on and on and on.

This is socialism finest hour; A front man with no scrupples and with the ability to change the story ever so slightly day after day untill he has given enough answers that any side of an argument could find at least one statement to believe in that was given for their cause.

NO matter what is said it is socialism against capatilism and the governments choice not yours on how the dollars are spent and the care that will be given.

The social programs are bringing down the house now and capatilsim has been expected to carry the burden with no right to refuse it; and now we are going full bore socialism with no ability to stop it. In the end we will pay dearly for letting congress tell us how we should spend our money and with who.

How about we address medicare and medicaid finances and care and see how responsive that is to patient will and cost reduction. Then after the government shows us they can do that for a few years we can allow them a piece of public health care?

Socialized mandated mortgages wasn't much of a success and that only cost us the bnanking industry….what is next? The country.

Thanks for the presentation of the facts, for those who have not already reasoned their way through all this.

Unfortunately I'm tiring of the whole process, perhaps because my education was not entirely at the hands of Public Schools (which started near the end of WWII and was not so bad in the early days) but, there it is — we now have a catalyst for Real Change from the perversions of governmental influences seen in schools on up to the state department and everything in between.

National medical services and insurance management on the order of social democrats, if legislated and then implemented, is doomed by the same mainspring: ineptitude plus corruption.

The political class may be somewhat insulated from direct damage of their actions and although they can always get what they need or want using other peoples' money, they will certainly need more medical care than medical science can ever provide should they succeed with this round of feculent fraud.

They must come to know that by their actions they are painting a target on their backs, even if we will not treat them like Saddam.

Thank you GenEarly you hit the nail on the head. I am very disappointed with the Republicans in NJ. They may win but it's the same old good old boy lets make a deal. I'm so glad my parents aren't here to see what they fought and sacrificed their lives for. America is not the same because of the egotists in political office. There needs to be term limits period. Recycle these blowhards.

You Americans are whacko! Self-absorbed, careless about others (neighbours). Eventually, this type of attitude catches up with you. Sell yourselves or neighbours to get ahead… America is no longer a community. It's a money grabbing society with no rudder! This is why you are in decline as a country any other country in the future will look to. Your success has been your downfall! You've become the MOST arrogant and uncaring nation in the Western world.

Who started globalization or movement of jobs abroad (outsourcing) as we know it today? Why, to make more money for certain segments of your economy? The long-term ramifications of the globalization policy are now very evident! Your worst enemy is yourself. "Man in the mirror…" Extreme free markets do not work…wake up! Why? Greed leads to non-sensible decisions! Hello…Madoff!

You Americans are whacko! Self-absorbed, careless about others (neighbours). Eventually, this type of attitude catches up with you. Sell yourselves or neighbours to get ahead… America is no longer a community. It's a money grabbing society with no rudder! This is why you are in decline as a country any other country in the future will look to. Your success has been your downfall! You've become the MOST arrogant and uncaring nation in the Western world.

Who started globalization or movement of jobs abroad (outsourcing) as we know it today? Why, to make more money for certain segments of your economy? The long-term ramifications of the globalization policy are now very evident! Your worst enemy is yourself. "Man in the mirror…" Extreme free markets do not work…wake up! Why? Greed leads to non-sensible decisions! Hello…Madoff!

[…] accuses Americans who are skeptical about his health care plan of supporting the stats quo. Like much of what Obama says about health care, this simply isn’t true. Whole Foods co-founder and CEO has a must-read op-ed in today’s Wall Street Journal […]

I think you are in error when you say “We have the AARP on board because they know this is a good deal for our seniors.” is false. This is another rexample of parsing words. Though AARP has not "endorsed" a specific plan, they are in full support of Obamacare, as evidenced by the pro-Obabmacare ads I have seen with the AARP banner.

There is another aspect to this health care bill. It is an attempt to fix the Social Security issue indirectly. The amount of angst that was displayed when Pres. Bush suggested revising it and the fact it is the Golden Goose of the Democratic Party does not allow for a direct solution.

In the Health Care Bill there is a paragraph that reads….This section amends the Social Security Act. The government has the power to determine what constitutes an 'applicable [medical] condition.' The government has the power to determine who is allowed readmission into a hospital. This determination will be made by statistics: when enough people have been discharged for the same condition, an individual may be readmitted.

In other words there is nothing personal or inclusive of a doctor’s opinion, it will be statistically based. This coincides with Obama’s answer to the woman with the 100-year-old mother, "Are you going to take into account the spunk and spirit, the will to live?" was, "I don't think we can do that."

This is government rationing, pure, simple, and solves the Social Security issue by allowing people to die sooner.

We need a public vote on this without Acorn and Seiu and such. And not drop the other ball like immigration which is a ploy for democrat voters, job loss to true Americans,more health care to share,and with no stoppage at the border, more drugs and kidnapping with a greater possibility of terrorist to come in.

THIS administration has to be stopped, NOW !

Too Many WRONGS going on. How much is the public paying for the Czars?

The New York Times reported August 10th: “President Obama on Monday reiterated his commitment to pursuing comprehensive immigration reform, despite his packed political agenda….” He must be serious; Obama has made that pledge to reporters twice in four days. On both occasions, the President also said he plans to start off where the Bush administration left off and introduce a bill that gives amnesty to the entire unlawful population in the United States (generally estimated at about 11 million). Reports are this bill is being written behind close doors with Congressional leaders and government officials and it is shaping up to be a wish list for activist groups. The plan is to finish drafting the bill this fall and introduce the legislation next year.

To make matter worse, the President’s rhetoric is already starting to sound like the shrill White House complaints that Americans are not lining up lemming-like to support his Healthcare plan. Speaking on immigration Monday he warned, there are, “demagogues out there who try to suggest that any form or pathway for legalization for those who are already in the United States is unacceptable.” Well, if by demagogues he means the “majority” of Americans he is right. There are lots of them out there. The administration’s efforts to demonize and silence their critics on the healthcare debate was bad enough…now we have the president threatening to take the same tactics into an already polarized debate on immigration reform and border security.

It is not clear what the White House thinks it is doing. Many first-term Democrats in “moderate districts” and conservative “blue-dog” Democrats already feel like they are being “thrown under the bus,” sacrificed to push through the White House agenda. Many of them oppose amnesty as well. On this issue, the President is likely to be odds with many in his own party.

Worst of all is that we know amnesty won’t work. Reagan tried it in 1986. After Congress passed the law in a few years the illegal population was even bigger than before…not to mention rampant fraud that occurred during “legalization.”

A quote attributed to Albert Einstein goes, “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” We need to stop the insanity. The President’s approach to border security and immigration reform needs to be stopped before it gets started. It will drive the nation apart; harm the economy; and won’t solve the problem. It won’t be fair. It won’t be compassionate. And, it won’t work.

[…] when I called his original Nightly News Repot “straight reporting” for the most part. The Heritage Foundation posted a scathing fact check of Obama’s New Hampshire Townhall Meeting. Here’s the opening paragraph: Any doubts that […]

if you all dont think OBAMA health plan is what the people want to huffington post .com and see the thousand that want this plan not few hundred that is not for it on these repubs web site that is not for it

To those of you who are Obama's supporters: How in the world can anyone with children support Obama's socialist agenda??? Do they not love their children enough to not want them to have debt debt debt on their shoulders for their entire life, much less living in a country controlled by the government, not the people? Think, people.

I am dismayed that citizens of this country will tolerate the lies that have come out this present administration, and not be concerned about the true meaning of this health care joke. What will it take to wake people up? What can patriots do to take back this country and give our children at minimum the freedom and liberty we grew up with instead of unbearable debt. N. Krushev was right…"we will collapse from within." Very sad to turn our backs on our God given freedom.

Health care for federal employees is currently provided by PRIVATE insurance companies. If Obamacare forces everyone into the "public option", where are the government employees going to get their health care when the private companies are no longer in business?? Do they think about that??

These townhall meetings are great, however we cannot take any information from a senator, representative, or even b.o. to the bank unless they can go directly to a page and show the words. Put your lawyer cap on and imagine all the ways information can be changed. Then even if they show us a page, what stops them from changing the contents afterwards. Even our 2nd amendment had a challenge last year and was narrowly held on to by a 5 to 4 decision on the supreme court, and the words seem clear to me what the founders meant. Over a thousand pages and ram it through? Just who are the real crazies here? I also recall someone asking about the what the definintion of "is" is. I am happy to see so many skeptics.

This notion that everyone has some god given right to health care is ridiculous. Once the right comes back into power I sure hope that we abolish socialist medicare and let all those loser old folks with no money fend for themselves instead of sponging off us hard working patriots. Let them go to Britain for health care if they want.

Everything liberals do is like trying to build a 100-story highrise by digging 100 stories directly underneath it. They undercut the very foundation they are suckling from.

They have not stopped to think that(or have and don't care)the people who are paying so much taxes (those evil rich people–those making $100k-@ $999k), who hire people like me, the bastards) into the system are the people who they are trying to steal even more from.

Do these morons realize that stealing from the rich to give to the poor only makes more people stuck in poverty? (and that Robyn Hood stole from the KING, not rich business owners, because the KING OVER-TAXED people into poverty)!!!

Do liberals look back at ANY history at all? Do they know history? (Dumb question: see Waxman-Markey a/k/a Cap & Trade)

I recently contacted Harry Reids office to explain my concerns with government run healthcare(or government run anything for that matter).

When the receptionist finally called back I was told that I did not understand the issues. Further she stated that Senator Reid understands that "Americans are struggling to understand healthcare".

I asked her what level of education she possessed. She is a high school grad. I told her that with a degree in mathematics, a second degree in Information Systems Management and a Masters of Science in Computer Science, that my analytical skills and education level were quite up to the task of understanding the failed socialist policies I have seen and read about in countries that have implemented these systems. these people are incredibly undereducated and overconfident. As Heinlein said, "An intellectual is a highly educated person who cannot perform math with their shoes on!"

[…] Newsweek, believe that the left is losing the fight over health care not because the President fudges facts every time he speaks, not because town hall protesters know more about the legislation than […]

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